Cotuit Center for the Arts

Cape Cod Museum Trail: Cotuit Center for the Arts

By Chelsea Colson | Photos by Pat O’Connell

The Cotuit Center for the Arts, part of the Cape Cod Museum Trail.

An often overlooked Cotuit gem on the Cape Cod Museum Trail is the Cotuit Center for the Arts (CCA), provides a variety of entertainment spanning from an art gallery, theatre, music performances, and a variety of events. The center also offers year round classes and workshops in the visual and performing arts. The classes range from life drawing, tap dancing, stage performance and much more.

The art gallery has two levels and displays both two and three-dimensional works by local and international artists.

Two years after being founded in 1993, the CCA was incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization. Since then the center has presented or produced over 50 art exhibitions featuring over 500 visual artists exhibits, more than 40 concerts, and 20 full length theatrical productions. The CCA’s mission is to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the creative process by facilitating communication among artists and the public. Several community organizations have used the facilities, such as the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, the Cape Cod Foundation, and the MSPCA.

There are many reasons to visit the CCA. You might want to browse the gallery that featuring works by local, regional, and international artists. Usually there are 3 separate shows sharing the gallery in the 2-level space. The shows include both 2 & 3-dimensional work such as pottery and sculpture. On the 2nd level there is a cozy theatre, which hosts performances of plays year round for example, the” Ideal Husband”, “Enchanted April”, and the award-winning “Underneath the Lintel”. Many reviewers on TripAdvisor boast about the performances at the CCA. A majority of the reviewers giving a 5-star rating based on the acting skills and quality of the performers. No wonder TripAdvisor has rated the center as #1 for things to do in Cotuit! There are many events hosted at their facilities throughout the year, the highlights being the Cape Cod Music Festival & Cape Cod Opera House performances, the Waterflow & Outsider Art Exhibitions, the annual Chili & Poetry Festival, and the Arts & Souls haunted Halloween Masquerade Ball.

For those looking to kindle or improve their artistic skill-set, there is a class for everyone! There is little commitment required, since all classes provide single or multiple class options. A handful of the classes are also free, with a suggested donation of $5, One class that I find intriguing is a soothing Drum Circle class where the drums are provided. The art classes available range from traditional painting classes to a metal clay studio course. One could even learn how to play the Ukulele! There are also Yoga classes at the studio.

This wonderful museum on the Cape Cod Museum Trail is an easy 25 min. drive from our Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast Palmer House Inn. On the way you will drive through quaint Cape Cod villages. Cotuit is a village in the town of Barnstable and is located halfway between Falmouth and Hyannis. There are also several beaches close by such as Riley’s Beach, Ropes Beach, The Loop Beach, and Oregon Beach. If you plan on catching one of the theatre shows and are looking to get a bite to eat before or after the performance, there is an outstanding Italian restaurant close by, “Villaggio Ristorante”. The location is perfect for dinner and a show date for any special occasion, even if that occasion happens to be just another Saturday night on Cape Cod.

Other Stops on the Cape Cod Museum Trail include:

Chelsea is a Falmouth local, born and raised. She loves telling people all the great things to do and places to see in her hometown. She is also a professional artist who loves to travel. This past year she spent traveling and working along the east coast of Australia and visited New Zealand for a few weeks. “I have to say, there’s no other place in the world quite like Cape Cod.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe room

Cape Cod’s Emily Dickinson Room Five

While all of our guest rooms have their own charm suitable for relaxation after the most wonderful day exploring gardens on Cape Cod, we recommend the Harriet Beecher Stowe room, the Theodore Roosevelt room or the Emily Dickinson room. These rooms feature comfortable king beds, fireplaces, jacuzzi-style tubs and a relaxing stay before and after your day.